Multiple ministers being dropped from cabinet in upcoming shuffle, sources say

Multiple ministers are being dropped from federal cabinet in a shuffle expected to take place Wednesday,sources tell CBC News.

Those senior government sourcessay the shuffleisintended to put the focus onthe government'seconomic prioritiesincluding housing andshore up the cabinet ahead of the nextfederal election campaign.The governmentalso wants to put key communicators on important files.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called ministers back to Ottawa for meetings on Monday and Tuesday, said sourceswith knowledge of the shuffle who are not authorized to speak publicly.

Such meetings typically happen just beforea cabinet shuffle to allow the prime minister to present ministers with their new portfolios. The prime minister'spublic itineraryshows he will be in private meetings on Tuesday. His Monday itinerary also said he was in private meetings.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freelandwill keep her position, said sources withknowledgeof the meetings.

According to Radio-Canada, CBC's French-language arm, Foreign Affairs Minister MlanieJoly andEnvironment and Climate ChangeMinister StevenGuilbeaultare not changing portfolios.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett announced shewill not be seeking re-election in theTorontoSt. Paul's riding. While she is staying on as an MP, it would not be surprising ifTrudeau replaced the veteran politician in cabinet with someone re-offering for the next election.

Like Bennett, Transportation Minister Omar Alghabrawill not be seeking re-election and will be shuffled out of cabinet as a result, sources tell CBC. He is expected to make an announcement about his future on Tuesday.

Sources said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Ginette Petitpas Taylor,the minister responsible for official languages and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, are among those who have been asked to return to Ottawa.

Several ministerial announcements that had been scheduled for early this week have been cancelled. They include events originally set for Monday with Petitpas Taylor in Montreal,Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in Vancouver andHousing Minister Ahmed Hussen in St. John's.

It's not clear if those ministers will be changing jobs. Cancelled ministerial events are often a sign that a cabinet shuffle is pending.

Last month, several Liberal sources told Radio-Canada they believe Marco Mendicino is at risk of being removed as minister of public safety.

Mendicino has been under intense pressure due to the controversy over the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison. The minister also has come under fire overhis management of the government's gun control legislation and the foreign interference file.

WATCH | Trudeau to shuffle cabinet with eye on next election:

Significant changes to federal cabinet expected Wednesday

1 year ago

Duration 2:03

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to shuffle his cabinet on Wednesday and sources tell CBC News that multiple ministers could be out.

Asked last week in Kingston, Ont., whether he had confidence in Mendicino, Trudeau did not answer directly.

"I have an amazing team in Ottawa and an amazing group of MPs right across the country who are committed to serving their country every single day, and anyone in my cabinet by definition has my confidence," he said.

Shuffle expected to be Trudeau's largest since 2021

The shuffle is expected to be the biggest change to Trudeau's cabinet since October 2021, when the Liberals' second minority mandate was a month old.

It comes ahead of a scheduled cabinet retreat next month in P.E.I., which should give new ministers a few weeks to familiarize themselves with their portfolios.

Thisshuffle willput the prime minister's team in place for the next federal election.

Trudeau undertook a similar retooling of his cabinet in July 2018,prior to the2019 federal election campaign. That shuffle saw five ministers added to cabinet and new portfolios created for seniors, intergovernmental affairs and border security.